Water-power wheel.



J. W. ATKINSON. WATER POWER WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED no.1, 1908.

f 921 ,940n Patented May 18,1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnesses THE NORRIS PETERS cw, WASHINGTON. n. c.

J. W. ATKINSON.

WATER POWER WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.1, 1908.

921,940, Patented May 18, 1909.

B SHEETS-SHEET 2.

/Ef. J

1/0/27? )4. ATK/NGOM THE NORRIS PETERS co, WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNTTEl) PATENT @3515? JOHN W. ATKINSON, OF BENTON, ARKANSAS.

WATER-POWER WHEEL.

Application filed December 1, 1908.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN VJ. ATxINsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Benton, in the county of Saline and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in i Vater Pov. er VVhe/els, of Which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to new and useful improvements in Water power Wheels and it is of that construction which is capable of generating power Without the necessity of using dams or falls.

The object of my invention is to create a device of the character specified which will generate sufficient power for the purpose of operating machinery, Wherever there is a sufficient volume of Water to operate the paddle Wheehit not being necessary to install my invention below a dam or at a falls as is required with other Water Wheels.

Another object of my invention is to construct a Water Wheel that will be strong and durable and at the same time have a high figure of efiiciency.

l i ith these and other objects in view, my invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts as are hereinafter described in this specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

Referring to the drawings Which are for illustrative purposes only, and are therefore not drawn to any particular scale, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention, the concrete casing being partly broken away to disclose the construction of the paddle Wheel and steel frameavork. Fig. 2 is a plan view of my device showing the different positions assumed by the several paddles in the course of one revolution of the paddle Wheel. Fig. 3 is a perspective vie-a of one of the frames Which each paddle wheel comprises.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a cement casing 1, Which if desired may be made of steel or other suitable material, encircles the reverse side from which the paddle Wheel 2 gets its power, preventing 0 any pressure being exerted upon the paddles 3, While they are assumin such a position that they Will receive the in lforce of the current into Which said paddle Wheel is submerged. Adjacent to said concrete casing is a metallic frame-Work 4, composed of two Specification 01" Letters Patent.

Patented May 18, 1909.

Serial No. 465,472.

longitudinal girders 5, held substantially in place by means of transverse beams 6. Additional braces 7, extend from one of said lon itudinal "irders 5 to each of said transb D J verse beams 6, to add additional strength to said frame-Work. These additional braces 7, are held securely in place by means of angle irons 8, or other suitable fastening means. A shaft 9, journaled in suitable bearings 10, against the said concrete casing and in said longitudinal beams 5, has securely mounted thereon tWo small Wheels 11. Extending radially from each of said Wheels and held. thereto by means of braces 12, are a plurality of spokes 13. Secured near the outer ends of each set of spokes 13, is a hoop 14, which serves to hold said spokes more firmly together. A number of supports 15. extend one from each of either set of said spokes coming together at a common point on said shaft 9, Where they are firmly held by means of a clamp 16. These spokes are so arranged in pairs that each one has a corresponding one extending from the opposite small Wheel 11. Formed or secured near the outer end of each spoke is a perforated ear 17. Rotatably mounted between each tWo corresponding spokes is a spindle 18, said spindle Working in said perforations of said ears as bearings. Secured to each of said spindles 18, are four or more arms 19, Which are held substantially together at their inner ends by means of a crosspiece 20. Secured to each set of arms is a suitable slab 21, or a number of slabs if so desired. The said arms 19, are curved at their outer ends in such a manner as to offer greater resist ance to the current of a stream. The inner portions of said slabs 21, are of a greater Width than their outer portions. The object of this is to cause said paddles 3, to assume an angle not greater than a straight angle when in such a position as to receive pressure from the current of a stream. The widened portion binds against their corresponding spokes, preventing further rotation of said spindle 18. When each paddle is traveling in an opposite direction to that of the current of the stream the paddles Will assume such a position that the widened portion of said slab 21., will bind against the inner periphery of said hoops 14. The several positions assumed by said paddles is brought out articularly in Fig. 2.

A though I have specifically described my invention I may exercise the rigl'it to make such modifications in the general construction and arrangement of the several parts of my device as do not depart from the spirit of the claims hereunto appended and as do not fall without the scope thereof.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a water power wheel the combination with a foundation provided with a recess, of a frame-work mounted thereon, a shaft and a paddle-wheel mounted on said shaft partially within said recess, said p addlewheel comprising plurality of paddles secured to said shaft, each of said paddles consisting of a plurality of arms, a crosspiece arranged at the inner ends thereof, said arms of each paddle arranged in parallel relation to one another, their outer ends being curved rearwardly, each of said paddles provided with a slab secured to said parallel arms the inner portion of which is of a greater width than the outer portion thereof, means whereby said paddles may he held for rotation and means whereby power may he transferred from said-shaft to be utilized as desired.

2. In a water power wheel comprising a paddle wheel adapted for rotation, plurality of paddles, said wheel consisting of two sets of radially extending SPOliij-S, each having a hoop secured near the outer ends of said spokes composing; that particular set, one of said spokes in each set corresponding with one of said spokes in the opposite set, each spoke provided with a perforated. ear,

said perforations in each two corresponding ears heing the hearings in which rotate the spindle of each of said paddles, each of said paddles consisting of a plurality of arms, a crosspiece arranged at the inner ends of said arms to hold them securely together, said arms arranged in parallel relation to one another, their outer portions being curved in such a manner as to offer greater resistance to the current of a stream, each of said paddles comprising a slab secured to said parallel arms, the inner portions of said paddles being of a greater width than the outer portions thereof, means to transmit the power generated by said paddle wheel, substantially as shown and described.

.ln device of the class described comprising a paddle Wheel provided with a plurality of paddles, each of saidpaddles consisting of four or more arms, a crosspiece ar ranged at the inner ends of said arms to hold. them securely together, said arms arranged in parallel. relation to one another, their outer ends heing curved in such a manner as to o'il'er greater resistance to the current of a stream, each of'said paddles provided with a slab secured to said parallel arms, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. ATKINSON.

vi itnessesz Janns F. LEE, M. F. Soo'rr. 

